Recent Articles

We missed another perfect opportunity to solve one of Franklin County's most pressing and long-term problems.
And we certainly can't blame Mother Nature.
Over the past several days, especially Wednesday a week ago, we were blessed with significant amounts of rainfall with totals measured in inches in many places, especially in eastern Franklin County.

In last week's edition, I took the opportunity to highlight a resident's concerns ... and some county commissioners' pledges to address the matter.
So, I might as well do Part 2 for this edition.
During the Aug. 4 meeting of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, resident Mary Solomon urged the county to address problems at its convenience centers -- particularly the potholes, muddy bogs and lack of paving, which makes some trips to the 'dump' a messy proposition.

Dear editor: I was very interested in an article in The Franklin Times on July 24, 2025. It was called "Sexual Exploitation."
The man involved made pictures of the assault and even had a "live performance." Yet on June 26, his bond was reduced from $490,000 to $250,000. There is no doubt that he did what he is charged with.

SPRING HOPE -- A Louisburg man and woman were killed the afternoon of Aug. 6 when flash flood waters swept them off NC 581 in Spring Hope.
Louisburg residents 55-year-old Raymond Evans Jr. and 24-year-old Lottie Alston, were both killed when their 2002 Honda minivan was swept off the side of the road and about 35 yards into a ravine near 687 North NC 581.
The area received nearly seven inches of rain in a very short period of time that day.

LOUISBURG -- Attorneys for the town of Louisburg plan to move a wrongful termination lawsuit to federal court.
Charlotte attorney Jake W. Stewart filed the notice July 25 on behalf of the town, Mayor Christopher Neal and Town Administrator Sean Medlin.
Former fire chief Randy Lanham filed a lawsuit against them on May 20, alleging, among other things, his November 2024 firing was retaliation and that Medlin defamed him with finance staff and because of it all, Lanham "endured significant embarrassment, humiliation and severe damage to his reputation."

First Bank, 202 N Main Street, in downtown Louisburg, recently held their grand opening. The bank is based in Virginia. Pictured left to right: Tamera Terrell, Banking Associate; Michaya Epps, Banking Associate; Tiffany Burnette, Assistant Banking Center Manager; and Linda Gupton, AVP, Banking Center Manager.

LOUISBURG, N.C. -- Maria Parham Franklin and sponsor Vaya Health, presented a $5,000 donation recently to First in Families of North Carolina (FIFNC), following the success of the hospital's inaugural Stomp the Stigma 5K held this past May.
The funds will go toward supporting Franklin County residents in need of mental and behavioral health assistance through FIFNC's network of community-focused services.

Recently the Pilot Lions Club held their annual reverse raffle. One of the goals this year was to assist a Lions Club in the North Carolina mountains with their continued efforts in recovering from Hurricane Helene. They elected to team with the Riverview Lions, who have worked diligently helping the towns of West Jefferson and Preston. Many of the Riverview Lions' projects, beyond suppling basic needs, have been providing materials and labor to replace and repair roads and bridges for residents living in remote areas.

Above, from left, are Alexander Garcia, Kara Hoskins, Maci Hoskins, Laura Strum, Richie Strum, Jaden Hoskins, Sebastian Garcia and Molly Strum pose for a picture in front of a Louisburg fire truck during National Night Out, Aug. 5.

Jaxton Rogers, Marie Salter, Salleigh Rogers, Fiorella Velez and her son, John-Paul, get some goodies handed out by retired Franklin County sheriff's deputy Harry Upchurch at Bunn's National Night Out.

Louisburg canine Officer Jeremy Horn shows folks what K-9 Officer Trace can do, including searching for people and items.

Candy Collins, center, left, helps her grandkids, Grace and Willow Eichacker grab goodies in Bunn.

YOUNGSVILLE -- From 1966 to 1970, Youngsville High basketball coach Larry Lindsey took 33 kids and molded them into state champions -- twice.
Lindsey died in October.
But long before that, and well after, his players remember the coach who worked them hard and loved them harder.
They got together this past weekend for a reunion of sorts at the Youngsville Museum of History.

Warrenton, NC -- Funeral services for Phillip "Phil" Evans, age 74, who died on Saturday, August 9, 2025, will be held on Friday, August 15, at 2 p.m. from the Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Warrenton with Pastor Willie D. Silver officiating. Burial will follow in the new Mt. Bethel Church Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Robert Wayne Ayscue, 72, of Louisburg, died Tuesday morning August 5, 2025 at his home.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Raymond Evans Jr., age 55, who died on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, will be held on Thursday, August 14, at 1 p.m. from the Rocky Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Louisburg, Rev. Rory Sneed, officiating.

LOUISBURG, NC -- Kathryn Joyner West, 94, of Louisburg, died August 6, 2025 at Brekenridge in Rocky Mount, NC. She was born March 10, 1931, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Bennett Joyner and was preceded in death by her husband, George M. West, her son, George M. "Buddy" West, Jr., sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Bill Fleming and her brother, Mack Joyner.

SPRING HOPE, NC -- Corell Garland Pittman, 60, of Spring Hope, died Saturday morning, August 9, 2025 at his home.

Warrenton, NC -- The family for John Thomas Francis, age 72, who died on Thursday, August 7, 2025, will receive friends on Wednesday, August 13, from 2 until 4 p.m. at Richardson Funeral Home in Louisburg. Burial will follow in the Francis Hill Cemetery.

Louisburg, NC -- Funeral services for Lottie "LaLa" Alston, age 24, who died on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, will be held on Saturday, August 16, at 11 a.m. from the Richardson Funeral Home Chapel in Louisburg with Rev. Anthony Alston officiating. Burial will follow in the Alston Family Cemetery.

FRANKLINTON, NC -- Funeral services for Clyde Raymond Yarborough, age 66, who died on Sunday, August 3, 2025, will be held on Sunday, August 10, at 2 p.m. from the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Bunn with Rev. Jeffrey Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in the Gethsemane Church Cemetery.

YOUNGSVILLE, NC -- Wilbur Gray Pearce, 90, of Youngsville, died Monday evening, Aug. 4, 2025, at his home.

BUNN -- Six months after taking the job, Police Chief Justin Hastings presented commissioners with his strategic plan for the next two years.
During the Aug. 4 meeting of the Bunn Board of Commissioners, Hastings presented the document which outlines the department's core values, its commitment to community policing, its pledge to uphold ethics, its budgeting plans, staffing goals, operations, and equipment plans.

LOUISBURG -- Horses were the main attraction. But, mules stole the show during the Cooperative Extension's 29th annual Franklin County Regional Horse Farm Tour.
The Aug. 1 event featured stops at an equine hospital, a farm stay and a racehorse breeding farm.
But, the stocky hybrids of horses and donkeys -- and their handlers -- were a new addition to the horse farm tour.